(PDF, Unknown)

HOME
ABOUT
ROAD TEST REVIEWS
PODCAST
FORUMS
THE STORE
HOONIVERSE MARKETPLACE
TIPS & SUBMISSIONS
HOME » CARS YOU SHOULD KNOW »FEATURED » CURRENTLY READING:
Half-Cooked: This 308/GTO/Mondial racecar/streetcar is Ferrari Goulash
Eric Tegler
May 12, 2014
ADVERTISE ON HOONIVERSE
SEARCH
Search
Cars You Should Know, Featured
Advertise Here
You could argue all day about what to call this car. Ferrari purists may not consider it a Ferrari at all. Racers might not really think that
it’s an IMSA GTU­spec racecar. Ferrari 308, Mondial, and particularly 288 GTO owners might consider it an abominable mongrel.
Me, I don’t care. Like its Washington DC­based owner, I just think it’s a good time.
At first sight you’d say, “Look, it’s a 288 GTO!” Then you notice the two single 512S­esque headlights, the flared wheel­arches, the
Zeus fasteners, the black wheels, the cooling vents cut into the rear fascia/spoiler. This is a different beast, confirmed by the fact that
when the driver gets out, he wriggles out the window over the door, Dukes of Hazzard-style.
Inevitably, you end up thinking, “Someone cut up a potentially $1 million Ferrari to make it a track­day car?” Well, that’s not what
happened.
HOONIVERSE MARKETPLACE
Hooniverse Marketplace: 1986 Skoda
Rapid with Parts Car
Hooniverse Marketplace: 1963
International Harvester Travelall
Featuring Top 2/2 of vehicles Available in Marketplace
Read more
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
Page 1 / 7
This hybrid began life as a U.S.­spec 1980 308 GTSi – the very thing Tom Selleck sported around Oahu in as Magnum P.I. Through
the 1980s, it spent its time on California and Arizona roads. But in 1990, it was exported to Japan. At that time, the Japanese Touring
Car Championship was in full swing, featuring Supras, Skylines and Ford Sierras. Change was on the horizon however, and for 1993
the Touring Car Championship became JGTC (Japanese Grand Touring Car).
The first event of the season at Suzuka Speedway included an IMSA GT exhibition race with GTO and GTU cars from the U.S. The
308’s Japanese owners decided they wanted to compete. So they handed it over to Japanese exotic car dealer, Art Sports, who had
become the first non-European Ferrari F40LM race team. Art Sports converted the 308 into a full tube-frame racecar with 288 GTO
body panels supplied by Arizona-based body converter, Jim Carpenter.
Advertise Here
The fiberglass panels are fabricated from real discarded Ferrari 288 molds. However, rather than mounting the conversion panels
on a 308 or 328 space-frame, these particular panels enclose a race-ready tube frame chassis. They were combined, as per IMSA
GT rules, with the stock-block 308 2.9 liter V8, with suitably modified bottom and top end as well as MOTEC engine management. All
that remained of the original 308 was its five-speed manual and its data plate.
Advertise Here
Advertise Here
The car was completed for, and ran in, the IMSA GT exhibition race. But rules changes almost immediately made it obsolete. For the
next decade, the racer sat in a corner of Art Sports shop, pulled out occasionally for track days. In 2006 it was refurbished. The
original race motor had by that time been cannibalized for spares so Art Sports substituted a “breathed on” Ferrari Mondial Tipo 105F
3.2 liter V8.
Have you visited Hooniverse's Retro Tech site,
AtomicToasters?
In 2011, the car migrated back to San Diego, purchased by a restoration shop which subsequently offered it for sale. Its present
owner, who has other Ferraris, was in search of a reasonably priced track day/street car at the time and heard about the 308-cum
GTO racer through friends. He bought it in 2012, complete with its original 308 street title.
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
After shipping the car back east, he found that the wiring harness had been hacked into. The racer ran but not well. Off it went to
Maryland-based Competizione & Sports Cars and to specialist, Ron McCall for a thorough sorting. In addition to the refreshed wiring
harness, new fuel tanks were fabricated and installed as were Ferrari 360 GT Brembo brakes and added heat sealing around the
Page 2 / 7
In 2011, the car migrated back to San Diego, purchased by a restoration shop which subsequently offered it for sale. Its present
owner, who has other Ferraris, was in search of a reasonably priced track day/street car at the time and heard about the 308-cum
GTO racer through friends. He bought it in 2012, complete with its original 308 street title.
After shipping the car back east, he found that the wiring harness had been hacked into. The racer ran but not well. Off it went to
Maryland-based Competizione & Sports Cars and to specialist, Ron McCall for a thorough sorting. In addition to the refreshed wiring
harness, new fuel tanks were fabricated and installed as were Ferrari 360 GT Brembo brakes and added heat sealing around the
rear bulkhead which prevents the rear mounted V8 from literally singeing your back.
The result is an appealing Frankenstein. The 288 body panels hide the 3.2 which enjoys forged pistons/rods and more aggressive
cams. It’s a revving motor which makes power and torque above 4000 rpm. At 9000 rpm it puts out 450 hp and 280 lb­ft. But, in the
interest of longevity, the MOTEC system cuts the fuel off at 7200 where the dyno says it makes 400 hp. The engine runs on pump gas
and while it’s not stump­puller, the car’s 2380 pound wet­weight means it doesn’t have to be.
It does have to handle however and the 288 silhouette car is “probably the best handling car I’ve ever driven,” its owner affirms.
A bespoke double-wishbone suspension coupled to 18 inch Neez (F40 supplier) wheels wrapped in eight inch-wide front/12 inchwide Nitto DOT race rubber controls weight transfer. Paired with the mid-engine layout and stiff frame, the intended result is a neutral
handling track terror that can be driven on the street. And because it’s so light, its Eibach springs/Koni shocks are set for compliance.
The car doesn’t comply with easy categorization. When at car shows or Ferrari gatherings, the owner says it generates three basic
reactions.
“People think it’s a GTO and I immediately tell them it’s not. Some are disappointed. Purists get upset because they question
converting a 308. They understand the tube-frame concept but object to the use of the 288 body panels. Then, you have a third group
of people who just love it. Their outlook is that it’s meant to be driven.”
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
Page 3 / 7
And the owner was gracious enough to briefly let us do just that. Throw your legs over the door frame, slither down into the OMP seat
and you’re presented with a pure racecar dash. To the right of the steering shaft (the wheel is perched on the dash, waiting to be
affixed) oil pressure, fuel and speedometer gauges line up above a row of toggle switches adjacent to a starter button – on the other
side, the fire extinguisher panel. A MOTEC digital dash is in place behind the steering wheel. Clip it into place, secure the four-point
seat belts and you’re ready to fire her up.
As if you need reminding, the start sequence relays the message, “this ain’t a street car”. You turn on the fuel, flip the
ignition/fan/power toggles and hit the starter. The 3.2 barks to life and you instantly feel every vibration.
The triple disc clutch is touchy so getting away can be tricky. Don’t plan on extended conversation or cranking the jams. All you hear is
the 3.2, loudly. It sounds pretty good. Acceleration is moderate until passing 4000 rpm when a wave of torque rolls in. Glance down
and you can see the pavement whizzing by through the gap between the door panel and roll cage. The fact that you’re on the street in
this thing is a hoot.
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
Page 4 / 7
That said, it’s not all adrenaline. There’s more than expected play in the steering (tie rod ends?) and the brakes can be difficult to
modulate before warming up. Grip is so big you’ll have to hit the track to feel the limits. And even in 1993, the stock 308 gated
gearbox would’ve handicapped the car in a race. You just can’t rush it. The owner has the MOTEC traction control set quite
aggressively. In second gear with about 3500 on the digital display I cracked the throttle and blurrrrrp! – the system cut spark and cut
off my fun.
Fixing those things isn’t hard. Finding a car this cool that alternately turns heads and frightens other drivers isn’t. The owner has
driven it about 150 miles at a sitting but that’s not what you do with it (not if you like your hearing). This Goulash is for lapping your
nearby road course or quick back road bombing on the weekend. It’s half cooked and that’s why it’s cool.
Like
40
Tweet
18
0
Related posts:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Weekend Edition – A 1988 Ferrari Mondial, which now qualifies for AACA Events
Hooniverse Asks­ What’s the Most Awesome ‘70s IMSA Racer?
Ferrari F430 GT2 è Bellisimo ma Insano Costoso
Video: Ferrari 458 enters the spin cycle on a wet road
Ferrari FF is one hot little number
« Hoonivercinema- Monday Music Video
Moped Monday (why not, right?)
And now I want a Ruckus… »
Comments (16)
Login
Sort by: Date Rating Last Activity
Sjalabais 104p · 21 hours ago
+14
Wow, what a story! What I take with me is wondering how many hours of highly skilled labour this particular car has enjoyed.
Reply
Report
bluehillsmike · 20 hours ago
+6
Your perfect Cars and Coffee ride
Reply
Report
Rust-MyEnemy 108p · 20 hours ago
+10
I think it's exquisite, and tuff az phuq. I'm going to avert my eyes now in case it lashes out at me for looking at it funny.
Reply
Report
Scandinavian Flick ★ 111p · 20 hours ago
+8
Amazing. I feel like this is the kind of crazy crap I'd do if I had crazy money. Almost as a counterpoint to the Bugatti article
earlier, this is practical elegance. Aggressive lines that convey its purpose. I want....
Reply
Report
dead_elvis 93p · 19 hours ago
+6
Dzus fasteners. They're good, but not god-like.
1 reply · active 18 hours ago
Reply
Sjalabais 104p · 18 hours ago
Report
+2
I happened to watch "300 - empire rising" tonight. Easy to see how ambition and reality might...eh...mismatch.
Reply
taborj 61p · 19 hours ago
Report
+4
This is awesome. I'd totally take that to the track every chance possible.
What I always wonder when reading about a "conversion" like this is -- what happened to the original, well, everything. You
state they basically only used the engine, transmission and VIN from the original, so somewhere in Japan, at one point in
time, there was a 308 GTS sitting around, no VIN, no engine and no transmission. But, presumably, everything else was
intact.
I like to think that the donor car was sold off, illegally and under the table, to someone from The Mid Night Club, who
immediately put in a 1000+hp motor in it for blasting down the Wangan.
Page 5 / 7
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
Reply
Report
time, there was a 308 GTS sitting around, no VIN, no engine and no transmission. But, presumably, everything else was
intact.
I like to think that the donor car was sold off, illegally and under the table, to someone from The Mid Night Club, who
immediately put in a 1000+hp motor in it for blasting down the Wangan.
Reply
Report
Tanshanomi 123p · 18 hours ago
+6
I flat-out love it. If you can't dig this car, don't call yourself a car guy. You can call yourself a collector, connoisseur, purchaser
or investor, or something like that if you wish, but if that's the case you're taking cars, life and yourself waaaay too seriously.
Reply
Report
GTXcellent 76p · 18 hours ago
0
love it. LOVE IT!
Reply
Report
Irishzombieman☆ 106p · 18 hours ago
+2
I. Love. This. Car.
As a kid I watched every episode of Magnum, P.I. on their original aire dates. The 308/288 body style will forever be my favorite
car, the thing I dream about when I wonder what it's like to be rich. If I ever get just enough money to buy a Ferrari, but not
enough that I can quit my job, I'ma buy me a 308 and drive it on Mondays. That way Monday won't suck. Monday will be
Ferrari day.
And I love that this car has been so thoroughly messed with for the purpose of driving it. And that all that messing about was
done by motor heads. This car is fantastic.
I also love cars that piss off purists. I'd drive the crap out of it until the motor went, then put a small block Chevy into it. There
is no cheaper horsepower on earth, and with the right exhaust, it could sound almost as good.
Reply
Report
CABEZAGRANDE · 17 hours ago
+2
I actually kind of prefer the 288 converted 308s, because of the shorter wheelbase of the 308. It makes it look even more
aggressive than the 288. This is something I've always wanted to do. I mean look at that thing! That is damn close to
automotive perfection.
Reply
Report
mdharrell 119p · 17 hours ago
+8
I hate this car.
The fact that it qualifies for an antique plate makes me feel old.
2 replies · active 15 hours ago
Reply
FЯeeMan 97p · 16 hours ago
Report
+5
Your argument is inval...
Wait, I see your point. :(
Reply
smokyburnout 83p · 15 hours ago
Report
+1
The cutoff is only 20 years in CT, so they've started popping up on early 90s Civics already. They are at least updating the
design for the first time in 50 years to reflect that people put them on things newer and less domestic than Model Ts
Reply
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
wisc47 87p · 16 hours ago
Report
Page 6 / 7
+2
design for the first time in 50 years to reflect that people put them on things newer and less domestic than Model Ts
Reply
Report
wisc47 87p · 16 hours ago
+2
This isn't a Ferrari…calling it a Ferrari is selling it short.
Reply
Report
Van_Sarockin 111p · 11 hours ago
+2
I like this a lot and think it's pretty handsome. Despite myself. I think I'm the only person on the planet that hates the 308.
Thanks Magnum. This car eradicates most of the major styling cues, and gives it an entirely different character. Ferrari missed
a trick, not doing this themselves.
Reply
Report
Post a new comment
Embed video
Enter text right here!
Comment as a Guest, or login:
Name
Email
Displayed next to your comments.
Not displayed publicly.
Subscribe to None
Submit Comment
How to Embed Images in Comments Keep it civil and safe for work.
COPYRIGHT 2014 HOONIVERSE - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Copyright 2013 Hooniverse
Google+
Subscribe (RSS)
Generated with www.html-to-pdf.net
Page 7 / 7